Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-03-11
SENATOR RIDDLEBERGER AND THE PRESl.
DENT.

For the first time, Senator I'D
dleberger and President Cleveland,
met last week. 1t is reported that
after the formaliues Of introduce
ton, the President, With quaint
look, remarked that he, the Sena-
tor, was a pretty well-ahused man.
Riddleberger responded quickly,
yes, there seems to be a pair OF us;
but that to the President it brought
"reputatiOn," while to the Senator
it was simply "nOtorlety,' after
which a pleasant conversation
passed between them. It seems
strange to the ordinary mind why
Senators and Congressman OF Op
posite political views to the Presl'
dent, do not feel at liberty or in
clined to cultivate the ordinary
civilities which should exist be-
tween the representatives Of the
people in the different departments
of the government, and frankly
state their wants and make known
thei. requests, in the capacity OF
representatives. We remember
once to have heard a prominent
democratic Congressman remark
that he had never crossed the sill
of the door of the Executive Man
sion since a certain republican
President had occupied it, and
when asked the reason, he could
assign no other than that he WAS
not of the same political faith.
We thought how small men in such
high positions can make themselves
by the exhibition of such a spirit,
and how circumscrUed their inilu-
ence when appearing in such a
role. 1t is like the fly on the OX'S
horn, or the stump-tail bull on the
railroad track. There is no sound
reason or rational excuse for Re
publican Senator or Representa-
tive not seeking the acquaintance
of a Democratic President, and
cultlvating friendly relations which
would remove the restrictions that
pertain among strangers IN the
transaction Of business. Parties
are necessary, under our political
system,-it may be necessary evils,
but whether evils or not they
exist aud will continue to exist.
But differences of opinion and of
party relations are no justification
for personal enlargement, or the
manifestation Of the discOurtesy
implied IN the Representative not
paying his respects to the Chief
Executive officer of the Nation.
Men who cannot lift themselves
above little personal spites because
Of political differences, are not
worthy of having party relations
or representative trusts. The pre-
sumption that the President wants
to serve the people ought to be up
permost in the public mind; and
he cannot learn what the people
want, if he is only permitted to
consult the partizans Of his own
political household. Republican
Senators and Representatives
ought to be as free in their inter
course with a Democratic President
as Democrats, and this he would
desire if he should not he a churl
or a blOckhead. Presidents are
frequently blamed for mistakes in
nocently made, when friendly rela-
tons with political opponents, in
the representative body, might
have prevented them; Tor unless
there we're Just cause for diStrust
frank statement from the member
would be as frankly considered,
and probably acted on. President
Cleveland has no doubt, by this
time, learned that everything his
party friends in Virginia say to
him is not gospel, and with his eX-
perience in this line, he would very
likely give due weight to a state
ment of political opponent with
whom he was on terms Of personal
friendship and acquaintance. Peo-
pie cannot learn each other with
out personal intercourse and ac-
quaintance, and Presidents are
made of flesh and blood like others
of their fellow creatures, and sub
lect TO the same kind of influence.
There is no sense in Republicans
holding themselves aloof from the !
Executive Mansion simply because
1t is occupied by Democrat, and .
we hope the Republican members /
from Virginia will hereafter pay
the respect that is due the Presi- /
dent by calling on him as others /
do, aud in talking plainly to him,
when the interests of their constlt- /
uents demand 1t. Senator Riddle /
berger has broken the ice, and |
we hope the example will be /
followed by otheTs.-Idtlc3 VIZ /
Ginian.